A retail chain has revealed plans for a new mobile shopping platform that will allow shoppers to buy goods online via their mobile phone.
While last month excitement surrounded Mobile World Congress and Near Field Communications, this announcement uses far more
While the buzz of Mobile World Congress last month was all about Near Field Communications, today’s announcement uses far simpler technology: either a smartphone app, or even good old fashioned text.
Simply Tap is a joint venture between mobile payments firm Monitise, Best Buy Europe and Carphone Warehouse. The idea behind it is that is that users will enter a 4-8 digit product ID code that will be printed on ads or catalogues. The user would have to pre-register, providing a delivery address and payment details. When a consumer wants to make a purchase they simply end an SMS with the code, or enter it into the iPhone app to make the purchase.
Mobile Money Network has said it is in talks with all the main U.K. banks and some 17 out of the U.K.’s top 20 high street retailers, as this platform will require retailers to be signed up to the common system so that the payment method can be used across multiple stores and sites.
According to Mr. White, Marketing Director for Mobile Money Network, the service is in response to the demand from users for simpler methods of buying goods.
“Buying things online or over the phone is a lot of hassle. You have to register multiple times on different sites, each with their own procedures. If you see something you want, you should be able to get it quickly and simply.”
So far only a basic iPhone app is planned, however Mr. White says apps for BlackBerry, Android, WP7 and Nokia will follow swiftly. Mobile Money Network will take a cut, described by Mr. White as “less than a credit card transaction”, from every deal.
While version 1.0 is fairly basic, Mr. White said future releases would include bar-code or QR scanners, or maybe even image recognition.
